Car-coupling



(No M04161.)

J. MART-IN.

GAR G'OUPL'IN No. 293,899. Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT 'QFFICE.

JOHN MARTIN, OF KNIGHTS FERRY, CALIFORNIA.

'[CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,899, dated February19, 1884. 7

Application filed November 12,1983. (No model) Knights Ferry, county ofStanislaus, and

. down upon it.

State of California, have invented an Improvement in Oar-Couplings;and'I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

My invention relates to a new and useful carcoupling of that class inwhich swinging latches on each draw-head are adapted to fall intoengagement with the ends or heads of the coup ling-pin.

My invention consists in a peculiarly-constructed draw-head chamber in astaple secured to the under side of the gravitating latch, adapted toreceive and throw out the coupling-pin when necessary, and in the meansfor raising the latches from above or on the side to uncouple the cars,all of which I shall hereinafter fully explain, reference being made tothe accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my drawhead applied to a car, and themeans for raising the latch. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof the draw-head, showing pin in position. Fig. 3 is a top View of thedraw-head, showing the'latch raised to show staple E. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the draw-head, a

I portion being broken away to show the coupling-pin in position, its{head in engagement with the shoulder b, and its point in staple E.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effectiveautomatic car-coupling, which shall be able to readily uncouple itselfin case of accident, or be easily uncoupled by design.

A is the end of a car, and B is a draw-head connected therewith insuitable manner.

0 is the latch, which forms also the top of the draw-head and completesthe draw-head chamber 1), which is formed in the under surface of thelatch and the upper surface of the body of the draw-head. This chamberis formed with the usual flaring entrance, and has an encirclingshoulder b, behind which the enlargedconical head d of the couplingpin Dfits. The latch O is hinged to the drawhead, and is adapted by its ownweight to fall head forces up the latch sufficiently to allow it to passunder until its head fits behind the The pin D entering the drawup theend or point of the head of the pin,

carrying said head out of engagement with the shoulder 72 and thusuncoupling it. This operation would result in case of an accident whichwould tend to raise the latchsuch as a derailment, where the relativeposition of adjoining cars would be changed. The raising of the latchwould throw the coupling-pin out, and thus by uncoupling the cars wouldprevent one dragging another off the track; but it is obvious that thisready adaptability to uncouple may be utilized by design, as

when the brakeman wishes to uncouple the cars. I have therefore shownmeans by which the latch may be raised to accomplish this result, bothfrom the top and side. v

Pivoted to the sides of the latch are arms F, the lower ends of whichare pivoted to levers G, having their forward ends pivoted to the sidesof the draw-head near the front.

H is a frame or bail, the sides of which pass down on each side of therear end of the drawhead. Upon these sides are loosely fitted the rearends of levers G, being prevented from falling off by heads h on thelower ends of the sides of the bail.

To the top of the bail is secured a rod, I, passing up through aguide-staple, J in the end of the car near its, top. This-rod isprovided with a hand-loop, i, on top, and a catch, 6, farther down. Byraising this rod the bail H is raised, lifting the levers G and the armsF, which lift the latch G, to uncouple the de vice. The catch 2" of therod I, engaging with the staple J, holdsthe rod up and keeps the latchraised, when desired. It will be observed that though the elevation ofthe rod I raises the latch the movement of the latter does not affectthe former, because the rear loosely on the sides of the bail. entranceof the coupling-pin under the latch and raising it slightly does notaii'ect the bail or rod at all.

In order to uncouple from the side of the car, I hrvc a long lever, K,fulerumed at k, and pivoted on the rod I.

In the bottom of the draw-head chamber I make a hole, m, to permit theescape or discharge of sand, dust, grit, and other foreign material.

The other part of the deviee-namely, the opposite draw-head-is aduplicate of the part described, and the coupling-pin is alike at bothends; but if a car provided with my eoup ling should have to be usedwith a car having the old style upon it, I could make a pin with aconical head at one end and a link or slotted head at the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a earcoupling, the draw-head B, hinged latch 0, between which andsaid drawhead a chamber, b, having a front shoulder, 12, is formed, forthe reception and engagement of a coupling-pin, as described, incombination with the means for raising the latch, consist ing of thepivoted arms F, levers G, bail II, and red I, substantially as hereindescribed.

2. In a carcoupling, the draw -head B,

Therefore the hinged latch 0, between which and said drawhead a chamber,Z), having a shoulder, b, is formed for the reception and engagement ofa coupling-pin, D, and the staple E in the latch, for the reception ofthe point of the bin, in combination with the means for raising saidlatch and staple to free the pin, consisting of the pivoted arms F,levers G, bail II, and red I, substantially as herein described.

3. In a car-coupling, the draw-head B and hinged latch C, for receivingand engaging the coupling-pin, in combination with the arms F on thelatch, the levers G on the draw-head, the bail II, upon the sides ofwhich the rear ends of lever G loosely play, and the rod I,substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

4. In a car-coupling, the draw-head B and swinging latch O, forming achamber, with a shoulder for the reception and engagement of thecoupling-pi n D and the staple E in thelatch, in combination with themeans for raising said latch from the side of the ear, consisting of thearms 1 levers G, bail H, red I, and lever K, substantially as hereindescribed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

.IOIIX BIARTIN.

\Vitnesscs:

O. D. Cons, .I. H. BLOOD,

